Question:
Daily Caloric Intake

Does anyone know approx how many calories we are permitted per day at about 6wks out? Per Fitday.com I've been taking in approx 600-800. Is that too much?    — [Deactivated Member] (posted on September 16, 2003)

September 16, 2003
I am 6 weeks post op, and I was told that my calories should be 800 to 1200 daily, protein should be 70 to 100 daily, fats should be 10 to 25 and carbs should be 30 to 50 daily. I think that is way to many carbs, and I use fitday to track my intake, I was also told it is the protein that helps us heal, not the calories.
   — cindy

September 16, 2003
Let me preface this with - you need to consult your surgeon and nutritionist, because I am sure that each one has their own version. That said, I've been in contact with my nutritionist through email, and asked her about calories, pre/post/longterm and she said that the standards that the dr's use with her group USUALLY follow the GUIDELINES of the following.... 70-100 gr. of protein ....at least 64 oz. of water...34-40 gr. carbs with a total caloric intake of 800-1000 calores daily. That is after the clear/liquid stage, but then again, it is to be a guideline, not a strict listing. If you think it would be difficult to compile and measure up all those numbers (or tedious) go to Fitday.com and sign up (it's free) and use it daily and you'll be pleasently suprised on how easy it is to keep tabs on it all (and where those danged carbs sneak in from!). Hope this helps!
   — track

September 16, 2003
You're going to get as many answers are there programs out there. I strongly encourage you to consult your dietitian or doc and follow their program. With that said (and meant), my dietitian did not have me count calories at all until about four months out, and even then she said don't obsess about it, just use it as a guideline. Up to that point, I was to focus on getting in 60 grams of protein and 64 ounces of water a day. Once I got that in, there simply wasn't room to overeat. At five and a half months out, now that I'm able to eat more, I still stay under my dietitian's recommendation of 1200 or fewer calories a day as long as I follow those two rules (I average 960 a day, but it's beginning to creep up). At six weeks out, you should work on protein and water. The rest will tkae care of itself.
   — Vespa R.

September 16, 2003
I was at 600-800 then too. Now at 2.5 months post-op, my nutrtionist wants me at 800-1000. I think once or twice I went over 1100 but it is not too often so I don't sweat it.
   — mrsmyranow

September 16, 2003
At ten weeks my surgeon told me I had to get between 1000 and 1200 calories a day or I wouldn't lose. At that time I was getting about 500. I upped the calories (but didn't eat a lot of starchy foods) and at 6 months, I had lost 120 pounds.
   — Patty_Butler